Portable umbrella-holder



[No Model.)

w. H. HOPKINS. PORTABLE UMBRELLA HOLDER.

No. 520,053. Patented May 22, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVlLLIAM H. HOPKINS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE UMBRELLA-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,053, dated May 22, 1894.

Application, filed March 20, 1 8 9 3.

To all whom it may concern.-

Ie it known that 1, WILLIAM H. HOPKINS, aortizen of the United States of America, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Umbrella-l folders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to clasps adapted to be attached to and suspended from the waist-band or belt and to be applied to an umbrella-stick or cane for the purpose of carrying the same, while leaving the hands free, and it consists in a clip or plate formed and shaped to be hooked over the edge of the belt or waist-band and provided with a safety-pin, or other appliance to retain it in place, for the purpose of supporting articles to be carried; in combining with a clip or plate for appliance to the waistband or belt or other article of human wearing apparel, a clasp supported thereby composed of a single length of springw re bent at its center to form a bow or loop with two depending arms or bars, and again bent transversely near the foot to form two conversely curved outsetting arms to embrace the haft or shank of an umbrella-stick, or parasol, or cane, or similar article; in a clasp for umbrellas or canes formed of a single length of spring-wire, bent at its center to provide a loop and two body-bars and again bent near its foot transversely to the lengtli of said bars to form two converse outsetting curved embracing fingers to receive the haft or shank of an umbrella-stick 0r cane, said fingers being covered with appropriate cush- 1on1ng material; in the combination to form a clasp for umbrellas or canes of a length of spring-wire bent at its center to form a loop and two depending arms or bars bent transversely therefrom at some distance from the loop to form two outsetting conversely curved embracing fingers, and a ring sliding upon the depending arms to force the fingers together and lock them; in a portable holder for umbrellas consisting of a'clip or plate to hook over the waist-band or belt and provided with a securing device below the hook to fix it to the belt, a chain or chains depending therefrom and a clasp or clasps at the end of said chain or chains, composed of a length of spring-wire having a loop at its head, two arms depending therefrom and two outsetting $en'al No. 466,821 (No model.l-

Fig. 3, a front view of the clasp partly in section to show the cushion over the fingers; and Fig. 4 is a modification.

A represents a metal plate having a hook, a, at its upper end to slip over and embrace the waist-band or belt and at its lower end, beyond the hook, but within the confines of the plate, provided with a safety-pin, a, ar

ranged parallel or nearly parallel with its lower edge, or with other suitable securing device to prevent accidental escape. From this plate depend chains, B, which receive, at their lower free ends, the loops, 0, of clasps, 0, adapted to grasp the umbrella stick, or cane, or the shank of the handle of any like device. These clasps are formed of springwire and in their preferable form are bent in the middle to afford the loop just mentioned, and from the loop depend in two straight arms or reaches, 0, normally sprung apart, to a point, e, from which they are bent outward in converse re-entering curves to form embracing fingers, O the ends of which are provided with suitable knobs, 0 either by turning the wire back upon itself, as shown, or by enlarging it.

Over the depending arms of each clasp is placed a ring, D, which, when resting at their upper ends, adjacent to the loop, permits the fingers to spring apart for the introduction of the umbrella stick or handle and when slipped down to the lower end of the brace forces the fingers together over such stick and locks them therearound. A slight bulge, d, in the arms, due to their elasticity, or intentionally formed therein, prevents the accidental reoutwardly and curve around to pass each other at the point where the outward bend to form the fingers takes place. In this construction the fingers are normally held closed by the elasticity of the arms and are opened by pressing upon the bulge, (3 of said arms compressing them so that they slip past each other at their lower ends, and carry the fingers away, one from the other. In order to protect the handle or stick from abrasion from contact with naked metal, the fingers of the clasp may be covered with cushioning material, as, for instance, small rubber tubes. 0 drawn on over them. But, while this is advisable, it is not indispensable.

Instead of employing chains, links may be substituted therefor or the clasps may be attached directly, and either rigidly or flexibly, to the securing plate or clip. So far also as the use of the hooked clip provided with safety-pin is concerned, it is evident that it may form a support for clasps adapted to hold other articles than umbrellas and canes.

With my device the umbrella, when not in use, may be carried depending vertically, or nearly vertically, by the side of the leg, leaving both hands free, instead of being tucked under the arm with the point sweeping the horizon, and the danger of leaving it in a building or on a street-car is precluded.

I claim 1. A clip for appliance to a belt formed of a plate hooked at its top to take over the waist-band or belt, and provided below the hook with a securing device on the same side as the hook, to engage with the belt and prevent accidental disengagement of the hook.

2. A clip for appliance to a belt formed of a plate hooked at its top to take over the waist-band or belt, and provided below the hook with a safety-pin within the confines of the plate on the same side as the hook and parallel with the lower edge of the plate.

3. A clasp composed of a length of springwire bent to form an eye or loop, and extending therefrom in two spring-arms, and finally bent into outwardly setting recnrved fingers adapted to embrace an umbrella-stick.

4. The combination to form a clasp for an umbrella-stick, of a length of spring-wire bent to form a loop, continued therefrom in two corresponding arms, and finally bent outward in two conversely curved embracing fingers, and a ring sliding upon said arms to force the fingers toward each other. 7

5. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a clip for appliance to the waist-baud or belt, consisting of a plate formed with a hook and with a fastening device below the hook on the same side of the plate, of aclasp supported thereby, composed of two depending spring-arms or bars, having conversely curved ontsetting fingers to embrace an umbrella-stick or handle.

6. A portable holder for umbrellas, consisting of a clip or plate to hook over the waistband or belt and having a fastening device to engage with said band, a chain or chains depending therefrom, and a clasp or clasps at the end of said chain or chains composed of a length of spring-wire having a loop at its head, two arms depending therefrom and two outsetting conversely curved fingers at the feet of said arms.

WILLIAM H. HOPKINS.

lVitnesses:

W. S. OHAPIN, WM. EGELHOFF. 

